Here are the favorites for the 2017 PGA Championship, Quail Hollow Club’s first major

Rory McIlroy, seen above at Quail Hollow Club’s 18th green during last year’s Wells Fargo Championship, and British Open winner Jordan Spieth are co-favorites for the 2017 PGA Championship next month in Charlotte, the Associated Press reports. The PGA Championship, which begins Aug. 10, will be the Quail Hollow Club’s first major.
Jeff Siner
jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

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Jordan Spieth won the British Open at Royal Birkdale on Sunday to capture the third leg of the career Grand Slam. He heads to the PGA Championship next month in Charlotte with a chance to be the youngest to win them all.
Dave Thompson
AP

Spieth and Jack Nicklaus are the only players to win three different majors at age 23.

“This is a dream come true for me,” Spieth said, gazing at his name on British Open’s claret jug. “Absolutely a dream come true.”

With the Open win, Spieth’s third this year, he moved to No. 2 in the world. He’s had 11 victories on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy has gone 10 majors without winning one, the longest stretch since he turned pro. But he’s optimistic about his chances after bouncing back from a rocky start at Royal Birkdale.

McIlroy was 5 over through six holes Thursday, but rallied with rounds of 68-69-67 to tie for fourth, his best finish in a major since he was fourth alone in the 2015 Masters.

I play well at Quail Hollow. I love the golf course. I know they’ve made a few changes, but I’ll have some really good vibes going into that week.

Rory McIlroy

“I’m excited for the next two weeks,” he said. “Quail Hollow, I’ve played well there. Shot a couple of course records, a couple of wins. Got beaten in a playoff, as well. Another couple of top 10s thrown in there.

“So I play well at Quail Hollow. I love the golf course. I know they’ve made a few changes, but I’ll have some really good vibes going into that week.”

Spieth played Quail Hollow in 2013 as a sponsor’s exemption when he was trying to get his PGA Tour card and finished tied for 32nd. He’s never returned because of conflicts with the Texas tournaments.